BC gets ready for big game by beating Tigers

February 16, 2013

EBENSBURG - Bishop Carroll coach Cosie Aliquo didn't want to play his regulars a whole lot on the eve of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship game, but he had little choice if the Huskies were going to close out the regular season with a win over Hollidaysburg.

That was just fine with senior Scott Ranck.

Playing in his final home game, Ranck scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Huskies turn away Hollidaysburg, 54-41, Friday on senior night.

"How much everybody was going to play [Friday], I didn't know, but you can't look ahead of Hollidaysburg. If you do, you'll get knocked off," Aliquo said. "We'll see how much energy has left. That's the reason we condition in November."

"It was a little tough having a game the night before the big game, but we'll be focused and super excited to play," Ranck said. "It's been a magical year so far, but if we want to keep going, we have to win. We have to play as hard as we can and play as a team. That's all any of us can ask for."

The District 6 Class A playoffs start next week. The top-seeded Huskies first game will be against the winner of the Glendale/Saltsburg matchup.

Hollidaysburg (6-15) closes out the regular season Tuesday at Altoona before the start of the Class AAAA playoffs.

"It's disappointing," Hollidaysburg coach Mick Pentoney. "It's like a black cloud has hung over us all season. We have no more excuses. Bishop Carroll is a tough team. They did a very, very good job, but we do ourselves in no matter who we're playing."

Marcus Lee and Brandon Martinazzi also scored in double digits for Bishop Carroll. Lee put in 14 points to go along with seven rebounds, and Martinazzi added 10 points.

Up by just a bucket midway through the fourth quarter, Ranck and Lee combined to score 12 of Bishop Carroll's final 13 points to pull away from the Golden Tigers.

Eric Miller's 3-pointer with 4:25 remaining pulled Hollidaysburg to within two points at 41-39.

After Lee made a pair of free throws, Carroll stole the ensuing inbounds pass, and Lee took it straight to the hole for another two points within a matter of a few seconds.

"That's why good teams are good. As the year goes along, good teams make those kinds of plays," Pentoney said. "Every team makes miscues. They took advantage of a lot of our miscues."

Zach Ottaway, the only Golden Tiger to finish in double digits with 10 points, trimmed the Carroll lead to four points with a layup off an assist from DeAndre Mason. That was Hollidaysburg's final points.

Ranck went 4-for-4 from the line in the final minute. In between trips to the free throw line, he made a steal at mid-court and quickly found an open Lee for a layup.

"Scott wasn't in the starting lineup until late-December. That's when we went on a run," Aliquo said. "He's showing great leadership down the stretch. He's been great."